The Danger of Group Conformity in Scientific Consensus

Scientific consensus can be flawed due to various factors. The story of Ignas Semmelweis highlights the resistance to hand-washing among doctors, despite evidence of its effectiveness in preventing disease transmission. The experiment by Solomon Asch shows how individuals tend to conform to the majority opinion in a group, even if it goes against their beliefs. In the context of modern science, financial incentives and conflicts of interest can influence the establishment and enforcement of consensus. For example, it was revealed that NIH scientists received substantial royalty payments from pharmaceutical companies, raising questions about impartiality. Additionally, laws have been enacted to prevent doctors from sharing information that contradicts scientific consensus. This raises concerns about transparency and public trust in scientific consensus.